ELC Middle School locked down - followup

Building closure lifted at noon Thursday

February 14, 2014

The lockdown of Estherville Lincoln Central Middle School after a .22 caliber bullet was found early Thursday was lifted after it was found there was no threat to students or staff.

"We enacted the policies and procedures we have in place and they worked beautifully," superintendent Tara Paul said Friday morning, adding, "Those policies and procedures are not set in stone."

Paul emphasized that every situation that arises is treatly differently in how staff responds.

Asked whether there was a possibility of disciplinary action against a student, said Paul, "Everything came out clear. All we found is a bullet."

In a release sent to parents and the community Thursday. Paul said a .22 cartridge was found in a seventh-grade classroom between the first two periods of the school day. Two students who found the cartridge were questioned by building administration and local law enforcement to determine where they had found the bullet. The classroom teacher was also questioned to determine who could have been at the location.

After a lockdown, local law enforcement searched all seventh-grade lockers and several PE lockers and interviewed students. Law enforcement relayed all information to school administration.

Estherville Police Department captain Brent Shatto and building principal Nathan Essary visited classrooms to ask that classes proceed as normal and reassure there was no immediate threat to students or staff.

After it was determined no threats existed the lockdown was lifted at noon.

The district asks that all clothing, coats and backpacks brought to the school not contain any questionable or banned materials before entering the school building.

Anyone with further questions or information may contact the district central office at 362-2692.